Rosters

This selection process has been temporarily withdrawn and will be modified and re-issued when there is clarity on the new dates for the World Cup and a new process for selecting the team has been identified.

SECTION 1 – PURPOSE

The Junior Women’s National Team Program for 2020 will compete in the 2020 WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup, which takes place in Lima, Peru in August, 2020. The purpose of this document is to set out the process that will be used by Softball Canada to select athletes to the 2020 WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Team.

This selection process has the following objective:

Select the best possible Team for the 2020 WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup. While some objective criteria will be used to select the Team, it is also recognized that there is a significant subjective element. Subjective elements include such factors as previous and current performance, experience, positional requirements, leadership, and team cohesion.

SECTION 2 – ELIGIBILITY

An athlete is eligible for selection to the Team so long as they are: (1) in good standing with Softball Canada, and (2) a Canadian Citizen holding a Canadian passport valid up to 6 months after 2020 WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup (March 1, 2021), or a person eligible for Canadian Citizenship who is actively pursuing Citizenship.

To be eligible to be selected to the Team, the athlete must meet any age requirements and citizenship requirements stipulated by the organizers of the event at which the Team will be competing.

SECTION 3 – AUTHORITY FOR SELECTION

The Head Coach has final authority for all selection decisions, including selecting athletes to the Team, removing athletes from the Team, and selecting replacement athletes to the Team where applicable. In making selection decisions, the Head Coach will consult with the High Performance Director and Manager – Women’s National Teams (WNT), and with the coaching staff, defined for the purposes of this document to include assistant coaches, scouts and evaluators as designated by Softball Canada.

SECTION 4 – ATHLETE SELECTION PROCESS

REGIONAL IDENTIFICATION CAMPS

Identification camps will be held in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Ontario in May. Athletes will be evaluated using the evaluation process outlined in Appendix A, the “Five Star Rating System”. Evaluations are specific to positional requirements – infield, outfield, pitchers and catchers. This process will act as a resource for athlete evaluation and not necessarily be the final determinant. In addition, the Head Coach will have the discretion to organize any other drills, practices and games that will assist in the selection process.

TEAM SELECTION

No later than June 10, 2020 the Head Coach will, in consultation with the Assistant Coaches and High Performance Director, select 20 athletes to attend the Canada Cup in Surrey, British Columbia. Following the Canada Cup, the final Team of 16 athletes, and alternates, for the 2020 WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup will be named, with the goal being to put together the best possible Team for the event. The final roster will be determined by no later than July 15, 2020.

Factors that will be considered in this selection include physical and technical aspects of the game, as well as team dynamics. These factors, which will be assigned weight by the Head Coach, as he or she deems appropriate for the decision-making process, include:

Previous and current performance

Experience

Positional requirements (primary and backup)

Present and projected development and/or improvement

Leadership/Contribution to team chemistry

Availability for competition and training

The depth chart, as developed from the evaluation criteria in Appendix A

It is understood that in making selections to create the best possible Team, it is possible that the best individual athletes may not be selected. The Head Coach has the discretion to advance athletes with previous international experience to later stages of the selection process. The Head Coach also has the discretion to name an athlete to the Team even though that athlete may not have participated in evaluation camps or other selection activities.

The timelines that will be followed in selecting the athletes to the 2020 WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup team will be as follows. Note that specific events, dates and times may be subject to change.

Identification camps in May in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Ontario. Exact locations to be announced.

Up to 20 athletes will be selected to compete in the Canada Cup by no later than June 10, 2020.

The Head Coach will select a team of athletes to represent Canada at the 2020 WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup no later than July 15, 2020.

Alternates may be added to the Team to replace an athlete removed from the team pursuant to section 5. The addition of alternates to the team is at the sole discretion of the Head Coach and will be in keeping with the philosophy of fielding the best possible Team.

UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES/CHANGES TO THE DOCUMENT

If unforeseen circumstances arise which do not allow for this selection process or the above timelines to be implemented as outlined in this document, Softball Canada reserves the right to identify an alternate process or alternate timelines. Should this occur, all athletes in the selection process will be notified of these changes in a timely manner.

SECTION 5 - REMOVAL FROM A CAMP OR FROM THE TEAM

An athlete may be removed from a camp or from a Team where the athlete:

a) Is unable to meet performance expectations;b) Unable or unwilling to meet required training expectations;c) Is unable to perform due to injury, illness or for other medical reasons as determined by Softball Canada’s medical staff;d) Is unable to commit to the required Team activities (note that an athlete may obtain an exemption from the Head Coach and Softball Canada)e) Violates team rules and/or Softball Canada’s policies and procedures; orf) Exhibits conduct that is detrimental to the image of the National Team program or Softball Canada.

SECTION 6 – SUBSTITUTION OF ALTERNATES

Where necessary and appropriate, an athlete removed from a Team may be replaced by an alternate selected by the Head Coach.

SECTION 7 – APPEALS

Softball Canada selections for the 2020 WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Team may be appealed in accordance with the procedures set out in the Softball Canada Appeals policy. Any dispute relating to the Softball Canada Internal nominations procedure for the 2020 WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Team must be brought according to said policy, or may be brought directly to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) with the consent of all parties and at the discretion of the SDRCC.